Combined letter-box and gate-post



(No Model.)

R. GROOM, Jr.

COMBINED LETTER BOX AND GATE POSTQ N0.,438,47 Patented OfilllllllllljlllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllll a INVENTOR: a ifitiflfld627 00171471- ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

RICHARD GROOM, JR., OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

COMBINED LETTER-BOX AND GATE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,476, dated October14, 1890.

Application filed December 4,1889. Serial No. 332,558. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD GROOM, J r., residing at Pueblo, in thecounty of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in a Combined Gate=Post and Letter-Box, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a gate-post having areceptacle or box hinged in its upper end, which when closed fits intoits upper hollow portion of the post, and when desired may be swungoutward, so as to facilitate the ready removal of the letters and papersaccumulated therein.

It has also for its object to provide convenient means for inserting themail into the box, of dividing the box into compartments for thereception of papers and letters, and also to provide the same with asuitable gravity-cover, whereby the entrance-slots may be more readilyprotected from the weather, and to hide the same from view to meddlers.

To this end my invention consists in certain novel combinations andpeculiar arrangement of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fullydescribed in the annexed specification, and particularly pointed out inthe claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a side View of a gate, showing one of the posts providedwith a letter-box. Fig. 2 is a perspective rear view of one of theposts. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the box swungout in dotted lines; and Fig. l is a transverse section on the line 4;4, Fig. 3.

In the drawings, A indicates the post, which is formed of a hollow body,preferably square or rectangular in crosssection, and which may beconstructed of any kind of material of which gate-posts are usuallymade, and in any improved design or style to match different styles offences.

The upper rear face of the post is provided with an opening B, to thelower edge of which is hinged the box or receptacle 0. This box, whichis most clearly shown in Fig. 3, consists of a vertical side 0', whichsnugly fits the opening B when the box is in its closed position, and ahorizontal portion O upon which the letters or papers drop when insertedthrough the entrance-opening, hereinafter re ferred to. The Vertical-andhorizontal members of the box are connected by segmental side plates 0 Gwhich have secured on their lower ends a transverse ledge or strip 0,which forms the lower portion of the box into a pocket, for a purposepresently explained.

D denotes a segmental plate, which divides the box into twocompartments, one D for letters and the other I) for papers.

A glass-covered sight-opening E is provided in the vertical member ofthe box, which is of a sufficient size to permit of sight into theinterior of the two compartments, but not large enough to admitof theletters being abstracted through the same from the box in case the glassbe broken or removed.

F denotes the staple and lock for securing the box in place, and Gdenotes the hinges, which are of a construction to avoid the box .beingswung farther than to a horizontal position, as shown in dotted lines,Fig. 3.

H denotes the diaphragm which closes the upper end of the post, andwhich is provided with two slots h h, which register with the paper andletter compartments, respectively, of the box. I denotes apartition-plate, having a concave inner edge, which registers with thepartition D and serves, in conjunction with the same, to divide theupper end of the post, thereby forming a guard which pre vents any oneabstracting the letters from the letter-box through the large or paperopening. The cap-plate J, which covers the upper end of the post, andwhich in contour may be of any desired ornamental style,'is hinged atone end to the upper edge of the post, the hinges K being provided withdepending lugs K, which are so arranged that the center of gravity ofthe cover may not pass the vertical plane passing through the hinges, sothat the lid, after being raised sufficiently to permit the postman orpaper-carrier to insert the mail or papers through theslots h It, willalways fall by gravity. The lid is preferably formed with a dependingflange, which surrounds the upper end of the post and prevents rain ordirt from entering into the box through the top.

In the front face of the post is cast or secured thereto guide-flangesL, into which is slid the name-plate or house-number, the same beingheld in the plate by the detachable end portion L, as shown.

In placing the post in position the same is arranged so as to have theletter-box open toward the building and with the name-plate on theoutside, as shown in drawings.

By forming the inner end of the box with the ledge c the same preventsthe letters from being caught between the stationary portion I and thepartition of the box.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the operation and advantages of myinvention will be readily understood.It will be seen that the same is exceedingly simple, and that a post canbe constructed with the box attachments at almost the same cost of theordinary post.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved letter-box consisting of a hollow post having a closedtop provided with entrance-slots, a downwardly-extending centraldivision-plate I, having a cut-away portion, an opening in one side nearthe top, a box or receptacle hinged at the lower end of the side openingand projected into the hollow post, said box formed with a base portionadapted to form the bottom of the letter or parcel receptacle, and acentral division having a curved edge adapted when folded to fit thecut-away portion of the divisionplate I, whereby two distinctcompartments are formed, all arranged substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. The combination of a hollow post A, provided with a lateral opening,a closed top provided with entrance-slots, and a central division-plateI, secured in the upper end of the post below the top, said plate havinga concave inner face, of the box 0, hinged in the lower edge of theopening B, said box consisting of a horizontal member 0 forming the bottom of the box, a vertical member C, adapted to close the opening 13when closed in, segmental side plates connecting the members O 0 and asegmental division-plate D, said plate adapted to fit the concave edgeof the division-plate I when said box is closed in, substantially asshown and described.

3. Theherein-describedimprovedcombined gate-post and letter-box,consisting of the post A, having a hollow upper end, a closed top,provided with entrance-slots h h, a central partition I, formed in theupper end below the top, having a concaved inner edge, a lateral openingB in the upper end of the post, op-

posite the partition I, a box or receptacle hinged at the lower end ofthe opening B, said box consisting of a horizontal member forming thebottom, a vertical member adapted to close the opening B when the box isclosed in, segmental side plates connecting the horizontal and verticalmembers, a central segmental plate dividing the box into twocompartments, said central plate fitting against the concaved edge ofthe partition I when closed in, and a gravity-cover hinged over the topof the post, all arranged substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

RICHARD GROOM, JR.

, Witnesses:

W. A. KING, E. C. BETTS.

